Coin Battery Cladding Suppresses Electrolysis

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Solution Overview

Problem

Coin type batteries pose a risk of accidental ingestion, leading to electrolysis of body fluids and subsequent damage due to pH shifts, with existing solutions failing to effectively prevent damage upon ingestion.

Innovation Solution

A coin type battery design featuring a cladding material with a nickel surface layer, a titanium intermediate layer, and a stainless steel substrate layer, which suppresses water electrolysis and corrosion reactions when ingested, reducing the risk of alkaline or acidic fluid shifts and subsequent tissue damage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If a conductive film containing a bitter substance is formed on the battery surface to prevent accidental ingestion, then the deterrent effect against ingestion is improved, but the protection against tissue damage upon ingestion is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedeterrent effect against ingestionVSAvoidprotection against tissue damage

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The battery case is divided into multiple functional layers: an outer layer containing bitter substance for deterrent effect, and an inner titanium layer for protective function. This segmentation allows each layer to specialize in one aspect of safety without compromising the other.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The titanium layer acts as an intermediary between the body fluid and the battery's internal components. It mediates the interaction by providing a biocompatible barrier that prevents harmful electrochemical reactions while allowing the bitter substance layer to maintain its deterrent function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of manufacture

If conventional single-layer materials are used for the battery case, then the manufacturing process is simple, but the battery causes severe tissue damage upon accidental ingestion due to water electrolysis

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanufacturing simplicityVSAvoidtissue damage from electrolysis

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The battery case uses a composite structure combining an outer layer with bitter substance and an inner titanium layer. This composite material approach provides both the deterrent function and the protective function against electrolysis, while the manufacturing process remains relatively simple through sequential coating or lamination.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the battery case have different functional qualities: the outer surface has bitter substance for deterrent effect, while the inner surface has titanium for biocompatibility and corrosion resistance. This local differentiation of material properties addresses both safety requirements without unnecessary complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Stability of the object's composition

If the battery case material is highly reactive to prevent corrosion, then corrosion resistance is improved, but water electrolysis accelerates causing faster pH shifts and increased tissue damage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecorrosion resistanceVSAvoidelectrolysis rate

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The titanium layer, which is highly reactive with oxygen to form a stable oxide film, is used to prevent harmful reactions with body fluid. The natural oxidation that would normally be considered a corrosion issue is converted into a beneficial protective barrier that actually prevents electrolysis and tissue damage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

The titanium oxide layer creates an inert environment between the battery components and the body fluid. This passive protective layer prevents direct contact and harmful electrochemical reactions, effectively isolating the reactive battery components from the biological environment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #39Inert atmosphere (Inert environment)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The described battery design significantly reduces the risk of damage to the body by preventing extreme pH shifts upon accidental ingestion, as titanium inhibits corrosion and nickel manages contact resistance, thereby minimizing harm.

Implementation Method 1

the titanium contained in the intermediate layer has a function of suppressing the water electrolysis reaction by a contact of a body fluid with the battery case of a positive electrode and/or the sealing plate of a negative electrode

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectWater electrolysis suppression: Electrolysis

Implementation Method 2

The surface layer is made of nickel

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrical conduction: Conduction (electrical)

Data Source

PatentUS10103361B2Coin type battery

Publication Date: 2018.10.16 PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO LTD

AI summary

A coin type battery includes a battery case, a sealing plate, and a power generation element sealed by the battery case and the sealing plate. At least one of the battery case and the sealing plate is made of a cladding material that includes: a surface layer disposed on the outer surface side; an intermediate layer disposed on the inner surface side of the surface layer; and a substrate layer disposed on the inner surface side of the intermediate layer. The surface layer is made of nickel, and the intermediate layer contains titanium.